AfriConnect Zambia, owned by SA's largest mobile operator and data transmission infrastructure firm, Vodacom Business Africa, has selected US-based Airspan Networks' 4G equipment to deliver broadband services to the capital, Lusaka, and other major cities in the country.
AfriConnect will use Airspan's flagship Air4G compact micro base station, enabling wider area coverage and extremely high capacity. The first phase of the project includes the deployment of several-thousand subscriber terminals in Lusaka, and is expected to expand coverage in other towns and cities.
Despite Zambia having several Internet service providers (ISPs), AfriConnect is so far the only one in the country that has a direct fibre link to SA. The link was established last year to enhance Internet services and lower the high cost of Internet connectivity in the country.
Zambia's data market has, up to now, not experienced the same growth as that of the voice market. However, the data market has now become competitive as mobile operators are rolling out broadband Internet services.
The ability to access social networks and e-mail services through mobile phones is said to have fuelled the demand for improved data services.
“AfriConnect focuses on delivering high-quality products and services to its customers. Zambia has a reputation for having low connectivity, but this is rapidly changing,” Mark Bennett, AfriConnect's MD, says.
Zambia, like many other African countries, is connected to undersea cables, including the East African Submarine Cable System (Eassy), which is providing broadband capacity to the country.
AfriConnect offers wireless-based Internet solutions throughout Zambia. Its solutions provide high-speed communication for all key markets including residential, the rapidly expanding business community, and key sectors such as healthcare, government, banks, agriculture and non-government organisation (NGOs).
With the deployment of 4G connectivity, powered by Airspan infrastructure, AfriConnect will now be able to better serve these markets.
Bennett believes Airspan's 4G technology will give AfriConnect competitive advantage in the telecommunications sector and enable the company to deploy the first 4G network in Zambia, which is expected to bring affordable and dependable broadband connectivity.
The deployment of a 4G network by AfriConnect is also expected to heighten competition in Internet service provision and bring down the high cost of connectivity in the country.
AfriConnect has been connecting rural areas, including schools, to the Internet in a bid to expand the company's coverage.
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